Photo courtesy Jodi Person

By Erika Rolling

NFR Champ

11-year-old Grande Prairie cowboy wins big at NFR in Las Vegas

Dec 8, 2022 | 8:27 AM

After winning in saddlebronc and bareback in the Canadian Finals Rodeo, 11-year-old Ryder Topolinski has now added another buckle to his collection, one he’s had his sight set on for six years.

Topolinski, who is from Grande Prairie, competed down in Las Vegas at the National Finals Rodeo this past week and is bringing home the World Junior Champion title for bareback in the Rookie division.

Topolinski’s mother, Jodi Person says he loves and puts a lot of work into competing.

“He’s had this goal since he was about five years old, and each year he got a little bit closer to it and this was his year. He’s been riding really good and his mind was right and came out to win.”

She says it was very exciting to watch, “He took a little tumble on his get off so he wasn’t one hundred percent sure what was going on a first or that he won, but once he did… he was pretty excited.”

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Person says he went into the short go round 19.5 points ahead of the other 13 competitors. Topolinski finished three rides with scores of 74.000, 81.500, 70.000 – for the highest average to win the World Junior Champion title.

He also competed in saddlebronc and bull riding and finished sixth place in both events and second all-around competitor.

Person says he can’t wait to go back; “next year he wants to defend his title and wants to bring back the saddlebronc, the bull riding, and the all-around title!”